Director of Operations & Chief of Staff

Job Title: Director of Operations & Chief of Staff Reports to: Executive Director & Founder Works closely with: Office Manager & Executive Assistant and Director of Strategic Relationships & Partnerships Location: Onsite (Required)
Status: Full-Time Annual Salary: $82,000.00 Projected

Start Date:

Tuesday, July 7, 2026

Key to Change is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire underserved youth through world-class music instruction and support their development as self-aware leaders. The work at Key to Change is grounded in the core values of artistry, excellence, opportunity, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Through exceptional teaching and community engagement, Key to Change is developing key skills in our next generation of changemakers.

Key to Change’s organizational themes for 2026 are to inspire, empower, and transform. As the organization continues to grow, Key to Change seeks a highly capable operational leader to strengthen internal systems, support the development of staff, improve organizational accountability, and advance the organization’s long-term mission and vision in close partnership with the Executive Director.

The Director of Operations & Chief of Staff is a senior leading team member and functions as the organization’s second-in-command. This role is fit for a seasoned professional who thrives in a fast-moving, mission-driven environment. They should enjoy building systems, supporting people, solving problems, and bringing structure and accountability into an ambitious workplace.

Working closely with the Executive Director, the Director of Operations & Chief of Staff oversees all organizational operations, including human resources, payroll coordination, administrative systems, project management, and staff accountability. This role supervises approximately 10 staff members and collaborates closely with leadership across programming, operations, development, and administration. The Director of Operations & Chief of Staff translates organizational vision into effective execution.

The ideal candidate for this role is both highly relational and operationally strong: someone who leads with warmth, professionalism, emotional intelligence, excellent judgment, and accountability.

This role is fully onsite in Renton, Washington. Remote work is not available for this position.

Organizational Leadership & Operations

• Lead and oversee day-to-day organizational operations across departments
• Develop, implement, and refine systems, workflows, and operational infrastructure that support organizational growth and sustainability
• Champion the integration of standardized project management practices and tools
• Establish task management systems that communicate progress, priorities, deadlines, and accountability
• Coordinate cross-functional communication between departments and leadership
• Lead project status meetings with staff and leadership
• Support management of project scope, scheduling, timelines, and operational priorities
• Identify operational inefficiencies and proactively implement improvements
• Help cultivate a culture of professionalism, responsiveness, accountability, and collaboration
• Ensure organizational operations remain aligned with policies, procedures, and strategic priorities
• Support operational planning for performances, events, student programming, and organizational initiatives

Executive Partnership & Chief of Staff

• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Executive Director & Founder
• Help prioritize organizational initiatives and manage competing demands
• Manage the Executive Director’s calendar, scheduling, and meeting coordination
• Assist with executive communications and inbox management
• Help prepare board materials, presentations, reports, and meeting agendas
• Attend quarterly board meetings and support board coordination logistics
• Track leadership action items and organizational follow-through
• Reduce operational burdens on the Executive Director to allow greater focus on fundraising, strategic growth, external partnerships, artistic leadership, and teaching

Human Resources & Staff Management

• Oversee employee onboarding,…